A lawyer by day, Contino, or “El Abogado de la Salsa,” as he is affectionately referred to by fans, is singer and songwriter who is best recognized as the former lead singer of renowned Cuban salsa and jazz orchestra NG La Banda. Upon moving to New York City from Cuba, he formed Gerardo Contino y Los Habaneros, a group known for its refreshing take on salsa and timba tunes, its impressive rhythm section and interactive call-and-response performances led by Contino. The talented lineup includes Grammy winning bassist John Benitez,pianist Axel Tosca Laugart and percussionist Luisito Quintero.

The group released its debut album, Somos Latinos, in 2013 to critical acclaim, with Timba.com describing the record as a “treasure trove of state-of-the-art bass, piano and percussion work laid down by some the very best instrumentalists in the genre.”

Sat Feb 14,2015 7:30 PM The Thrill of Tchaikovsky! A Valentine's Day Concert

A day for romance with music by one of the most romantic composers of all time! The concert will feature Tchaikovsky's great works, the String Quartet No.1, Serenade for Strings and more.

Sat March 14, 2015 7:30 PM The Three B's for Three

Great music for combinations of three by the Three B's featuring the piano trios of Beethoven and Brahms and an exciting collaboration with acclaimed choreographer Lucy Bowen McCauley premieres a new creation for the National Chamber Ensemble set to one of J.S. Bach's greatest works, the Chaconne in D minor.

May 9, 2015 7:30 PM Musical Gems of Mexico

Celebrate Mother's Day with a wealth of extraordinary Mexican classical music including the music of one of Mexico's great living composers Eduardo Angulo. Featured on the program will be one of Angulo's compositions Die Vogel (The Birds), for guitar and string quartet with internationally acclaimed guitarist Orlando Roman. Also on the program music of Manuel Ponce and more. A great way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Mothers's Day and the conclusion of NCE's 8th season!

THREE DECEMBERS chronicles three decades in the lives of a Broadway diva and her adult son and daughter. With a luminous score by composer Jake Heggie (MOBY-DICK, DEAD MAN WALKING) and a poignant and witty libretto by Gene Scheer, THREE DECEMBERS is a "modern masterpiece" (Opera Today).

BLUE VIOLA, Performances March 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29

BLUE VIOLA is a World Premiere opera by the same team that wrote UrbanArias' 2012 hit THE FILTHY HABIT. BLUE VIOLA tells the true story of a junk dealer who steals a priceless viola from a prominent orchestra musician, only to discover that the instrument is a fake. Featuring a hilarious libretto by Matt Boresi and a blues-infused score by Peter Hilliard.

He was forced to become a child soldier at the age of seven, and he has been a soldier ever since. He was once a slave; later, a prisoner of war. In combat he saw a buddy blown up beside him. He rose to become a celebrated war hero and trusted adviser to heads of state, but now that he has returned home he finds he cannot turn off the battle in his brain.

An epic story of romance, betrayal, and revenge, William Shakespeare's timeliest tragedy unfolds against a backdrop of modern military intrigue. Director Tom Prewitt's Othello's stop-loss return to the war zone triggers psychic distress that becomes more than one fallen hero's anguish, more than the ruin of a loving marriage. It becomes an entire community's collateral calamity.

This live audio recording will showcase the exciting world of audio theater, with live foley sound effects and actors playing multiple characters with only their voices to distinguish their characters.

Directed by WSC Avant Bard Artistic Director Tom Prewitt, with original music composition by Roc Lee, and sound design by Mehdi Raoufi. Featuring Lean & Hungry Theater company members Paul McLane as Iago, Alyssa Sanders as Emilia, and featuring WSC Avant Bard company member Chuck Young as Othello.

This production is created in tandem with WSC Avant Bard’s stage production of Othello, being performed at Arlington County’s Theater on the Run from February 4th to March 1st. http://wscavantbard.org/season-3/othello/ Check out the website for ticket information, and to find out about discounted tickets to see both the stage and audio versions of Othello!

About Lean & Hungry:

Drawing primarily on the works of William Shakespeare, Lean & Hungry provides professional audio theater to underserved areas, in established or improvised venues (both live and electronic), for the educational benefit and cultural enrichment of students, families, seniors and other interested groups in the Washington, DC metropolitan area and beyond. Lean & Hungry produces work that is accessible to the blind, those with mobility issues, and available to those without other access to theatre.

Join Artisphere on March 27 and 28 for a bunraku puppet theatre performance of Robin Frohardt’s The Pigeoning, a darkly comedic and heartfelt story that uses stealth puppeteers, live original music and lo-fi special effects to describe the divide between man and nature and the illusion of safety and control in the context of the end of the world.

Obsessed with cleanliness and order, the play’s neurotic main character, Frank, becomes vexed by pigeons that live in a nearby park. Convinced the pigeons are plotting against him, Frank sets out on an adventure to solve a problem that perhaps isn’t really there. New York-based creator and director Robin Frohardt worked closely with composer Freddi Price and an ensemble of five puppeteers to develop humorous, dialogue-free scenes that succinctly capture the absurdity of Frank’s journey.

“[The Pigeoning]...is a very funny bunraku puppet play for grown-ups (which) has as whimsical a relationship with time as it does with realism.”

—New York Times

“Frohardt and company have been finessing their piece for years, and the result is something extraordinarily integrated, burnished to a high gloss.”

Born Dominique Pinto, Dom La Nena grew up in Brazil, France and Argentina, studying cello along the way. She became so passionate about the instrument that she began writing letters to acclaimed American cellist Christine Walevska, who later encouraged Dom to move to Argentina to become her student. Dom studied under Walevska in Buenos Aires for several years, and when Dom eventually returned to Paris at age 18, she quickly found herself booked to play a session with the legendary British singer-actress Jane Birkin. Over the next two years, Dom toured the world with Birkin and French singer-actress Jeanne Moreau. When Dom returned home, she set to work on songs of her own.

Dom La Nena released her debut album, Ela, on Six Degrees Records in January 2013. With lyrics in both English and Portuguese, the album is collection of songs that showcases both her masterful cello playing and delicate vocals.